This report describes a research on the use of enchytraeids in soil
ecotoxicology. Actually many soil ecotoxicological research is
restricted to the earthworm Eisenia andrei/fetida limiting possibilities
for generalisation and ecologically relevant test results. This study on
enchytraeids consits of a literature survey and experimental work. The
influence of soil moisture, pH, temperature on the reproduction of
enchytraeids, and methods for breeding and isolating enchytraeids are
studied. The experimental work focusses on two species, Enchytraeus
albidus and E. crypticus, laboratory cultures of both species are
obtained from other institutes. For both species reproduction tests
could be performed in OECD-artificial soil. It is concluded that
reproduction experiments with enchytraeids are applicable within the
actual research program of the Department of Soil
Ecotoxicology.

This report describes a research on the use of enchytraeids in soil
ecotoxicology. Actually many soil ecotoxicological research is
restricted to the earthworm Eisenia andrei/fetida limiting possibilities
for generalisation and ecologically relevant test results. This study on
enchytraeids consits of a literature survey and experimental work. The
influence of soil moisture, pH, temperature on the reproduction of
enchytraeids, and methods for breeding and isolating enchytraeids are
studied. The experimental work focusses on two species, Enchytraeus
albidus and E. crypticus, laboratory cultures of both species are
obtained from other institutes. For both species reproduction tests
could be performed in OECD-artificial soil. It is concluded that
reproduction experiments with enchytraeids are applicable within the
actual research program of the Department of Soil
Ecotoxicology.